Should You Salt Your Own Driveway or Leave It to Pros?

3 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

After the plow truck leaves, a thin layer of ice can still form on your driveway from residual moisture, especially during a freeze-thaw cycle common in London winters. This raises a practical question for a lot of homeowners: is it worth salting the driveway yourself, or should that be left entirely to the snow removal company?

If salting is included in your service package, doing it yourself on top of that is usually unnecessary and can actually create problems. Over-salting can damage concrete surfaces over time and isn't great for nearby grass or garden beds either. Check your contract first, since duplicating a service you're already paying for wastes both salt and effort.

If your package doesn't include salting, keeping a bag of ice melt on hand for touch-ups between scheduled visits makes sense, particularly for high-traffic spots like the area right in front of your garage door or the base of your front steps where ice tends to form fastest. A light, targeted application in trouble spots is more effective than blanket coverage of the whole driveway.

Product choice matters too. Calcium chloride works at lower temperatures than rock salt, which matters during a deep freeze when regular salt stops being effective. Pet-safe ice melt options exist as well, worth considering if you have dogs that walk on treated surfaces regularly.

Why London driveways ice up after they are cleared

London winters swing above and below freezing often. Snow melts a little during the day, the water runs across the driveway, and it refreezes overnight into a thin, nearly invisible layer. Freezing rain does the same thing in minutes. That is why a driveway that was plowed clean in the morning can be the slipperiest surface on the property by evening, and why salting is usually needed on days with no new snow at all.

Doing it yourself versus a seasonal salting plan

Doing it yourself means buying and storing bags, watching the forecast, and getting outside at the right time, which is often early morning or late at night. A seasonal salting add-on covers the driveway on snow days plus freezing rain and refreeze visits, so the timing is handled for you. If you only want occasional touch-ups by the front door, a small bag at home is fine. If you want the whole driveway safe all season, a plan is simpler.

Protect new concrete, pavers and pets

Rock salt can be hard on newer concrete and some pavers, and it can irritate pets' paws. If you have a new driveway, decorative surfaces or a dog, ask for a pet-safe premium de-icer instead of standard rock salt.

Frequently asked questions

Is salting included in a Thames Valley Snow seasonal plan?

Salting is an add-on at $175 + HST for the season, and it includes freezing rain and refreeze visits.

Do you offer a pet-safe option?

Yes. Pet-safe premium de-icer is $120 + HST for the season.

What's included with Thames Valley Snow, and what's extra

Every seasonal plan includes automatic service whenever 5 cm falls (no need to call), the driveway cleared edge to edge including the City plow ridge at the end, and a timestamped photo after every visit. Seasonal plans start at $650 + HST for a single driveway, or $70 + HST per visit if you'd rather pay as you go. Optional add-ons, each priced up front: walkway and up to 6 steps $175, seasonal salting including freezing rain and refreeze visits $175, city sidewalk frontage $90, pet-safe de-icer $120, priority early-morning clearing $125, and a November / April season extension $95. Seniors and front-line workers, including nurses, firefighters, police, paramedics and teachers, save 5%. For a fixed price on your property, request a free quote or call or text (548) 888-8702, and see our snow removal prices and residential snow removal pages.